Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 05/2015

Identifying Binding Constraints in Pacific Island Economies

Ron Duncan, Hilarian Codippily, Emele Duituturaga, Raijieli Bulatale

November 2014

East-West Center

Abstract

The emergence of a large number of small states over the past four decades or so (there are presently around 50 states with populations with less than 1.5 million) has led to considerable interest amongst researchers, member governments, and international agencies in their economic and environmental viability. The literature generated in the process has focused on the special problems and development challenges faced by such states, including their prospects for integration with the changing global environment. The study presented here builds upon this literature in examining the binding constraints to development. It is our hope that this study will benefit policy makers, researchers, and the donor community.